Russia coach Stanislav Cherchesov was in bullish mood ahead of their final Group A showdown with Uruguay on Monday, dismissing suggestions his men under pressure because of their status as World Cup hosts.
Lionel Messi scored a hat-trick and had a hand in two more goals as Argentina crushed Bolivia 6-0 in South American qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup.
It turned out to be a rollercoaster evening for Argentine great Lionel Messi in the Copa America final on Sunday.
Uruguay are all but assured of a place at the 2014 World Cup finals after Edinson Cavani led the twice champions to a 5-0 away rout of Jordan in the first leg of their qualifying playoff on Wednesday.
Angel Di Maria and Sergio Aguero will miss Argentina's final South American World Cup qualifier against Uruguay on Tuesday as the team who have already booked their place at next year's finals prepare to field yet more reserves.
Luis Suarez ended his nine-match biting ban in fine style on Friday, grabbing the second-half equaliser that gave Uruguay a 2-2 draw in an enthralling battle with Brazil in the 2018 World Cup qualifiers.
A stunning bicycle kick from Antonio Sanabria and a second-half header from Omar Alderete gave Paraguay a well earned 2-1 home win over Argentina.
Peru edged Mexico 1-0 at the Copa America on Friday to move level on points at the top of Group C with Chile, who had earlier come from behind to draw 1-1 with Uruguay.
Argentina were counting the casualties on Sunday after beating neighbours Uruguay 2-1 in an often brutal River Plate derby.
England expect to face an added danger with a Luis Suarez comeback for Uruguay in World Cup Group D on Thursday even if coach Oscar Tabarez has not confirmed his country's top scorer for the match in Sao Paulo.
Rediff.com's man in South Africa captures the mood in Port Elizabeth on World Cup match day.
Uruguay made light of the absence of striker Luis Suarez to recover from a goal down and beat 2015 Copa America hosts Chile 2-1 in a friendly in Santiago.
Defending Copa America champions Argentina and South American heavyweights Brazil were drawn in favourable groups for next year's edition on Thursday, while hosts the United States will come up against 15-time winners Uruguay.
Images from the Copa America semi-final between Argentina and Canada at MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey, on Tuesday.
Lightning struck twice when Uruguay suffered another surprise World Cup qualifying defeat at home, losing 3-1 to Peru on Tuesday.
A stunning overhead kick by Eduard Bello helped Venezuela hold Brazil to a 1-1 draw in their 2026 World Cup qualifier on Thursday.
Argentina remain winless in South American qualifying for the 2018 World Cup after struggling to a 0-0 in Paraguay on Tuesday, while Uruguay and Ecuador both made it two wins from two games to top the group.
Germany and Uruguay will hope to salvage some pride in their third-place playoff match on Saturday after devastating semi-final defeats earlier this week.
The World Cup's history men face the competition's nearly men when inaugural hosts and twice winners Uruguay take on double runners-up Netherlands in Cape Town on Tuesday fighting it out for a place in the final.
Germany showed their legendary resilience on Saturday when they came from behind to beat Uruguay 3-2 in a thrilling third-place World Cup playoff.
Brazil lost their second consecutive World Cup qualifier match as Colombia fought back to win 2-1 against the five-times champions.
Uruguay are enjoying their best World Cup in 40 years and the way they overcame a spirited South Korea with a Luis Suarez double suggested their ambitions can stretch at least as far as the semi-finals.
'He is gradually getting better. However, I cannot confirm today that he will play in the first match'
Luis Suarez struck twice including a dramatic late winner to earn Uruguay a 2-1 victory over England in a pulsating World Cup Group D match on Thursday.
Images from the FIFA World Cup group fixtures between Costa Rica and Uruguay and Colombia and Greece.
Luis Suarez netted two superb goals to earn Uruguay a 2-1 win over a battling South Korea on Saturday and fire his team into the World Cup quarter-finals for the first time in four decades.
David Suarez scored a goal in each half to give Uruguay a 2-1 win over South Korea on Saturday and take them to the World Cup quarter-finals for the first time in 40 years.
Uruguay forward Luis Suarez faces a lengthy ban after Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini accused him of biting during the South Americans' 1-0 Group D victory on Tuesday, overshadowing a day of emotional extremes at the World Cup.
With players such as Forlan, Recoba, Marcelo Zalayeta and Javier Chevanton at his disposal Uruguay's future looks as bright as one of coach Juan Ramon Carrasco's suits.
Images from the Copa America Group D matches between Brazil-Colombia and Paraguay-Costa Rica.
Yuki Bhambri made his first doubles semi-finals of the ATP 500 tour.
Strikers Falcao, Alexis Sanchez and Edinson Cavani all scored as Colombia ate into Argentina's lead, Chile notched a second successive win and Uruguay revived their hopes in South American World Cup qualifying on Tuesday.
Defending champions Brazil will attempt to end a five-match winless run against their smaller neighbours Uruguay when they meet in Tuesday's Copa America semi-final.
Ecuador secured a place in the Copa America quarter-finals on Sunday after grinding out a 0-0 draw with Mexico.
Argentina have called up Mallorca's Spanish defender Pablo Maffeo for the first time ahead of this month's World Cup qualifiers against Uruguay and Brazil in the squad announced by its FA on Friday.
Netherlands coach Bert van Marwijk believes Uruguay's passionate approach should serve as an example for his team when the sides meet on Tuesday in the first World Cup semi-final at the Green Point Stadium in Cape Town. Van Marwijk revealed on Monday that before one of the first Dutch matches of this campaign he has used the South Americans as an example of how to play matches at this level.
Italy must find a way to shut down Uruguay striker Luis Suarez when the teams clash at the Dunas arena on Tuesday in a World Cup showdown which will decide who goes through to the last 16.
Opinion in Uruguay, a country of around three million people sandwiched between soccer powerhouses Argentina and Brazil, was divided over Luis Suarez's latest antics.
"I can almost assure you 100 percent that he will play, save unforeseen circumstances at the very last minute," Cuper told a news conference ahead of Friday's Group A match.
